The Top 10 Richest Poker Pros Chasing a WSOP bracelet
Are you ready to dive into one of the most fascinating topics in the gambling world? Today, we are looking at some of the most successful players in history who are still missing one very important item: a World Series of Poker gold bracelet. Let’s take a look at the biggest WSOP winners without a bracelet. You might find some names on the list that will surprise you.
For those who are newer to the game, winning a World Series tournament gets you a physical gold bracelet. It is the ultimate trophy and the highest honor in the poker world. But amazingly, some of the very best pros have racked up massive World Series of Poker earnings without ever taking home that shiny piece of jewelry.
Let me break it down for you. Some of these guys built their bankrolls on one massive jackpot, while others have simply grinded away year after year.
A Quick Look at the Biggest WSOP Winners Without a Bracelet
Before we dive into their individual stories, let’s look at the numbers. Here is a quick breakdown of the top ten players who have won millions but are still waiting for their first WSOP victory.
| Rank | Player Name | Total WSOP Earnings | Biggest Claim to Fame |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Trickett | $11,681,942 | 2012 Big One for One Drop Runner-Up |
| 2 | Christoph Vogelsang | $10,348,709 | High-Stakes German Pro |
| 3 | Ben Tollerene | $8,101,149 | Two Runner-Up Finishes in 2024 |
| 4 | Thomas Boivin | $7,404,394 | Huge 2025 WSOP Season |
| 5 | Niklas Astedt | $6,839,294 | Online Poker Legend |
| 6 | Antoine Saout | $6,676,645 | Three-Time Main Event Final Tablist |
| 7 | Steven Jones | $6,665,233 | 2023 Main Event Runner-Up |
| 8 | Ivan Demidov | $6,647,422 | 2008 Main Event Runner-Up |
| 9 | Jean-Noel Thorel | $6,597,000 | 2025 WSOP Paradise Runner-Up |
| 10 | Jonathan Jaffe | $6,549,428 | Former Dolphin Trainer Turned Pro |
1. Sam Trickett – The High Roller King
At the very top of our list is British poker star Sam Trickett . He has racked up an unbelievable $11.6 million in World Series of Poker earnings!
Most of that money came from one massive payday back in 2012. Trickett finished in second place in the “Big One for One Drop“. This was a special tournament that cost $1 million just to enter!
He walked away with over $10 million for his runner-up finish. Despite this massive score, he remains one of the top poker players without a bracelet.
2. Christoph Vogelsang – The Slow and Steady German
Coming in second place is Christoph Vogelsang . This German pro is famous for taking his absolute time to think through every single move at the poker table.
His slow and steady style has clearly paid off, netting him over $10.3 million in WSOP earnings. His biggest score was also in a Big One for One Drop event, where he took home $4.4 million.
Despite being eligible for the Poker Hall of Fame, Vogelsang is still hunting for his first live WSOP victory.
3. Ben Tollerene – The Bridesmaid of Poker
Ben Tollerene is an absolute beast on the poker tables. However, he has had some heartbreaking close calls in his quest for gold.
In fact, he finished in second place twice during the 2024 WSOP season. Missing out on the top spot can be tough, especially when you are so close to the trophy.
Still, with over $8.1 million won, we bet his bank account is doing just fine. Tollerene is widely considered one of the most talented poker players without a bracelet.
4. Thomas Boivin – A Rising Star
Thomas Boivin firmly announced himself on the global stage as a huge rising star during the 2025 WSOP season. The Belgian player snagged three massive seven-figure payouts in a single year.
His deep runs in high roller tournaments earned him over $5.5 million. A “high roller” is simply a tournament with a very expensive entry fee, usually $25,000 or more.
He now sits at $7.4 million in total cashes. Boivin is quickly becoming a household name among fans tracking the top WSOP winners without a bracelet.
5. Niklas Astedt – The Online Legend
If you play poker online, you definitely know the name Niklas Astedt . He is widely considered one of the greatest online poker players in history.
Astedt actually has two WSOP Circuit rings from online events, but he doesn’t have a traditional live gold bracelet yet. In 2024, he proved he could dominate live games, too, by finishing third in the WSOP Main Event.
He took home $4 million and jokingly called the famous tournament “a piece of cake”.
6. Antoine Saout – The Consistent Crusher
Antoine Saout has done something no one else in poker history has ever achieved. He has made the final table of the WSOP Main Event three different times!
The WSOP Main Event is the most prestigious tournament of the year, with thousands of players competing for the world championship title. Saout finished third in 2009 and fifth in 2017.
With $6.6 million in total cashes, he is a true legend and a prime example of massive World Series of Poker earnings without a win.
7. Steven Jones – The Reality Show Survivor
Steven Jones became famous for two very different reasons. First, he finished second in the 2023 WSOP Main Event, winning a life-changing $6.5 million.
Second, he was a contestant on the hit Netflix reality show “ Squid Game: The Challenge “. He almost won $4.5 million on the show but was eliminated near the very end, finishing 3rd.
Jones actually told reporters that losing the reality show hurt his soul way more than losing his heads-up poker match!
8. Ivan Demidov – The 2008 Runner-Up
Ivan Demidov was a massive part of the global poker boom in the late 2000s. In 2008, the Russian player made it all the way to second place in the WSOP Main Event.
He earned $5.8 million for that runner-up finish against Peter Eastgate. Later that same year, he almost won a title in Europe but finished third.
Demidov’s epic runs cement his spot among the biggest WSOP winners without a bracelet.
9. Jean-Noel Thorel – The Fan Favorite
Jean-Noel Thorel completely won the hearts of fans during the 2025 WSOP Paradise festival. He finished second in the Super Main Event against an opponent who was 51 years younger than him!
Thorel has only two WSOP cashes in his entire record, but they were both absolutely massive. His total sits at nearly $6.6 million.
It goes to show that you only need a couple of deep runs to make life-changing money at the tables.
10. Jonathan Jaffe – The Former Dolphin Trainer
Rounding out our top ten is Jonathan Jaffe. During the first player interviews at WSOP 2013, he said he worked as a dolphin trainer, but it turned out to be just a gig on his part. ESPN editors had to go back and edit out dolphin references in episodes that have yet to air, but the original package had already made its way to TV. Jaffe has racked up over $6.5 million in total WSOP cashes since.
Jaffe has made nine final tables over his career, meaning he has been incredibly close to a win. His best finish was third place in a 6-Max event.
He is a highly respected pro who will likely cross his name off this list very soon.
Honorable Mentions and Final Thoughts
A few other famous faces just missed the top ten but still deserve a shoutout. Players like Michael Duek ($6.5M), Paul Wasicka ($6.4M), and Dennis Phillips ($5.5M) all had massive paydays without securing the gold.
It is fascinating to look at these massive World Series of Poker earnings. Some players grinded for years, while others hit a single jackpot that changed their lives forever.
Either way, these pros prove that you don’t need a gold trophy to be a massive success in poker. The skill required to navigate huge tournament fields is undeniable. Who knows? Maybe the next World Series will finally see one of these legends win that coveted gold bracelet.
via pokernews.com
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